Chapter Forty-Nine: The Awkward Fifth Child

Mu Qing could only shake his head and leave it be. Lei Hu seized the moment to introduce Jiang Li, Hai, and the others one by one, including Changxing and his companions. Mu Qing had already heard about them; even the young servant Changkang, who attended Mu Qing, was specially permitted by Miss Liu to join in lessons and training alongside the family. As a man of the martial world, Mu Qing cared most for individual talent and physique, paying little heed to ranks or distinctions; his forthright nature meant he had no objections to any of this.

Lei Hu, for his part, had nothing else to occupy him, and now that his great-uncle had arrived, he could spend all his days here. He loved training in martial arts, and the chance to receive guidance from his grandmaster was more than he could have hoped for, so he had no intention of leaving.

This day was merely an introduction; formal instruction would begin the following day.

Having met everyone, Master Mu did not linger. He knew his presence made the children uneasy, so he said, “Let Lei Hu show you around,” and returned to his quarters.

The training ground was rectangular, its packed earth firm beneath their feet. At one end stood a rack lined with an array of weapons: blades, swords, spears, and more. To Liu Qin, it had the air of a martial family or a general’s residence. In truth, the training ground was built because Master Liu had a fondness for such things; in his youth, he had dreamed of roaming the martial world, but the obligations of being the eldest son of the Liu family had forced him onto the official path.

Thus he built the training ground, coming here when time allowed to practice boxing or sparring. As his official rank grew, so too did the need for personal safety, and he began to gather a group of guards, who used the training ground when off duty. Now, it belonged to the children; the guards had another practice yard set aside at the government office.

Liu Qin and the others, all children or adolescents, were fascinated by the weapons on the rack—especially the boys, whose fondness for arms seemed written into their nature. They took up the swords and blades, comparing them and waving them about; even Hai, seized by excitement, grabbed a longsword and swung it gleefully.

“Hey, don’t fool around! Be careful—these blades and spears don’t care who gets hurt. Watch out!”

Lei Hu grew anxious; these ignorant boys were waving weapons about, and a single misstep could cause injury. He carefully took the sword from Hai’s hands, his face stern as he removed the broadsword Changkang and Dongxiang were hacking at each other with, returning them to the rack one by one. He was about to lead the group away when, to his surprise, little Liu Qin walked up to a massive iron hammer, touched it, and tried to lift it.

“Oh, miss, that’s far too heavy for you. You’ll hurt yourself if you’re not careful,” Lei Hu hurried over to stop her. Jiang Li came as well, gently pulling her aside.

As they walked, Liu Qin refused to give up and asked, “Brother Lei, can you lift it?” The iron hammer was unmistakably familiar to her; it reminded her of an animated series she’d seen, “The Moon in Qin’s Time,” where a character carried just such a hammer, and was called Iron Hammer.

Lei Hu laughed, “Of course I can lift it, but it’s too heavy—it doesn’t swing easily. You’re all too young; this hammer isn’t meant for children.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, but then a cold voice sounded from nearby: “Just because they can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t. It’s only a hammer.” Liu Qin knew at once it was Fifth, the boy who always kept aloof, making it clear he wanted nothing to do with the group. Why had he followed them here?

Fifth brushed past the others, stepped forward, took the hammer’s handle in both hands, and with a hidden exertion of strength, lifted the iron hammer—two or three hundred pounds—off the ground. The onlookers gasped; some could hardly contain their admiration. He was barely ten years old!

Fifth, pleased with himself, dropped the hammer back onto the ground with a heavy thud, not anticipating the rebound would knock loose a longsword from the rack, which slid past his right hand. Instantly, a long gash opened along his hand, and blood gushed forth.

“Ah!” Liu Qin cried out and, without thinking, rushed over, pulling a handkerchief from her bosom and pressing it to his wound.

To the others, her action seemed perfectly normal; Liu Qin herself felt nothing amiss. But Fifth did not see it that way. The moment her handkerchief touched his hand, his brow furrowed tightly and he said, “I don’t need your help.” With his uninjured left hand, he casually swung her small body forward, sending her flying. A sharp slap, followed by Liu Qin’s cry of pain, rang out.

Fifth’s strength was evident from his ability to lift the iron hammer—this swing was instinctive, unchecked. The impact left Liu Qin dazed; she felt as if her backside had shattered, her body scattered to pieces. When she came to, she was grateful that there was no cement here, only earth softened by recent rain. Had it been concrete, she’d have ended up in the hospital.

The others were stunned; it had all happened in the blink of an eye. What was this? Jiang Li, as always, was the quickest to react—his gaze rarely left his sister. At her cry, he rushed over, picked her up, and examined her carefully. Seeing her right elbow, he gasped softly, “Sister, your arm?”

Liu Qin now felt the piercing pain in her elbow. She strained to look, and saw blood seeping through her thin spring blouse; she must have instinctively landed on her elbow, scraping the skin.

Fortunately, it was only a scrape, not a broken bone. Liu Qin tried to smile, to reassure Jiang Li, but the pain twisted her face.

Jiang Li turned and glared at Fifth. “My sister was kindly bandaging your wound, and you hurt her so badly. She’s only six—how could she bear it?”

Fifth showed not the slightest remorse. He lifted his chin, declared, “Serves her right,” and turned to walk away.

This time, everyone was angry. Fang Nuo, Changxing, and Changsheng blocked his path, their eyes blazing. Fifth tilted his head with disdain, saying, “What, you want a beating? You can come at me together—it’s nothing but a flick of my finger.”

Jiang Li pursed his lips, his expression stern. “Ano, let him go. Fifth, don’t get too proud—one day I’ll surpass you and avenge my sister.”

Fifth looked back at Jiang Li, his smile unsettling. “Very well, I’ll be waiting.”

Watching Fifth stride away, Jiang Li turned his gaze to Liu Qin, his eyes softening again. “Sister, bear it a little—I’ll carry you home for medicine.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Li said nothing more, struggling to carry Liu Qin, his single thought: Has my sister eaten too much lately? Why is she so heavy?

Meanwhile, Fifth stood in the courtyard, watching them leave, his gaze lingering. No one knew what he was thinking. Mu Qing stood at the window—his eyesight was excellent, and he took in everything outside. Now, as he looked at Fifth’s back, he said nothing, only sighed silently in his heart.